Emmitt Smith rushed for two touchdowns and Darren Woodson returned an interception 94 yards for a touchdown as the Dallas Cowboys clinched their third straight NFC East title with a 31-19 victory over the reeling Philadelphia Eagles.The Cowboys (11-2) have won 14 straight games over NFC East opponents, including four in a row over the Eagles. Dallas can clinch at least the second-best record in the conference and earn a bye week in the playoffs with one more win.
Rodney Peete, the third quarterback to start for Dallas in as many weeks, threw a 19-yard touchdown pass to Michael Irvin early in the first quarter and set up both of Smith's touchdown runs with long passes.
The Eagles (7-6) lost their fourth straight game after racing to a 7-2 start.
"It's amazing how one play turned the game around," Eagles coach Rich Kotite said. "We were in the game until there were six minutes left. That interception turned it around. Our level of play was better than it has been over the last three weeks. We ran the ball really well and executed like we haven't done in the last three games."
Philadelphia was driving for a go-ahead touchdown with under six minutes remaining when Woodson picked off an errant pass from Randall Cunningham at the 6 and raced down the sideline, sealing the 23rd victory in the last 27 regular-season games for Dallas.
Dallas held a 21-6 lead in the third quarter, but Philadelphia scored on its next two possessions to pull within 24-19 with 10:15 remaining. The Eagles were then driving for the go-ahead score after Jeff Sydner returned a punt to the Cowboys 12.
On third down from the 8, Cunningham tried to throw the ball to running back James Joseph. Woodson picked it off, sidestepped Cunningham and raced untouched for his first NFL touchdown.
Smith scored on runs of four and three yards, running his season total to a club-record 19. Smith rushed for 91 yards on 25 carries.
Peete, who suffered a sprained right thumb against Washington two weeks ago, threw a 46-yard pass to Michael Irvin to set up Smith's first touchdown and connected with Smith on a 23-yard gain to set up his second score.
Peete, who was making his first start of the season, completed 10-of-17 passes for 172 yards. Jason Garrett started last week for the injured Troy Aikman.
Irvin caught four passes for 117 yards.
Cunningham, who was 29-of-46 passes for 327 yards with an interception, threw a 25-yard touchdown pass to Fred Barnett, bringing the Eagles within eight points after three quarters.
"Offensively and defensively, we played well together today," Cunningham said. "You guys (the media) can put all the blame on me. I threw the interception when we should have scored to take the lead. Instead, they turn around and score. It just goes to show that one play can make or break a game."
Barnett caught seven passes for 99 yards. The scoring toss ended a career-long drought of 163 attempts without a touchdown for Cunningham.
Cunningham then hooked up with Maurice Johnson from five yards out. The two-point conversion failed.